Do you think the Planning and Zoning Commission should approve the zoning change from an FD to a SF-6 zone?

Primary tabs

After much public outcry – and with the cooperation of the developer – the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to postpone a decision on a zoning change request for 56 acres adjacent to the Castle Forest, Franklin Square and Bishop’s Crossing neighborhoods.

The request would have changed the property from FD, or future development, to SF-6, or single-family development. The SF-6 zoning allows a maximum of 5.5 units per acre. The land is currently vacant greenspace populated by trees and wildlife.

Members of the public voiced concerns about the lack of a neighborhood outreach, drainage and flooding issues, the environmentally sensitive nature of the site and even the presence of artifacts on the land. Numerous residents asked the commission to delay a vote on the zoning change request, citing concerns about traffic through the neighborhood, water runoff, water quality the potential for problems with development on top of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and the loss of wildlife habitat.

However, commissioner Lee Porterfield pointed out that there is very little land left in the city that is now vacant and in an area suitable for single-family development and commission chair Jim Garber pointed out that most of the issues that people expressed concerns about are not typically part of the zoning process.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to delay a decision for one month, to give the applicant more time to gather information, and conduct public outreach.

Most Recent Poll

The inclusion of a Craddock Avenue extension through environmentally sensitive land in a presentation on the city's Transportation Master Plan at Tuesday's city council meeting raised questions.

The potential extension, that would extend Craddock to Lime Kiln Road and Interstate 35 on a route above Sink Creek, is listed as a conservation corridor in the thoroughfare plan.

There currently are only two routes that connect traffic between Interstate 35 and areas west now – Wonder World Drive and through downtown. The Craddock Avenue extension would divert the traffic that is moving through downtown to other areas, but could present some potential environmental issues.

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, or CAMPO, started a regional arterial study in the middle of last year and when it is finished, it could show potential alternatives to the Craddock extension that CAMPO would be interested in funding.

The council is set to vote on the Transportation Master Plan on June 5.

Yes, it would ease traffic downtown sooner.

No, it's an environmentally-sensitive area and the city should wait for CAMPO options.